About Me

Hello, I’m Mitali Meelan (Topkar) an Indian contemporary and YA author and blogger based in Mumbai. This is my digital home where I share my writings, updates on upcoming books, fun facts and excerpts, experiences with publishing, reviews and recommendations and insights into the world of writing, creating and publishing books.

Publications so far:

My two short stories ‘Love Letters’ and ‘Love is Blind’ were published in anthologies in 2015. Click on the stories to read them.

My debut novel, ‘The Guest’ (released in May, 2016) was published by Ravinder Singh’s venture, Black Ink. I was one of the three first-time authors he chose to mentor and publish in his first season. If you are an aspiring author, I’d recommend you to go check out the Black Ink page for more details. If you need assistance, I’d be happy to help.

My second paperback novel about an anonymous blogger with a secret is in the writing process and will be published by Black Ink in collaboration with HarperCollins, India. Follow me on Facebook to get updates on the same.

AND the ebook is finally here! A collection of modern poems, quotes, conversations and musings titled ‘Coffee and Ordinary Life’ released on 28th November, 2017. A gift for my readers, it is available on Kindle Unlimited for free on app or device. Read more about it in this post.

Some random facts about me:

I worked in a magazine as an editorial coordinator, then in a publishing house for two years after my post-graduation before I left the job and began writing full-time.

I got featured in Vogue (July 2017 issue) for being one of the ten inspiring young Indian girls chasing her dreams.

With Mithila Palkar of Girl in the City (click to enlarge and read)

I featured two of my favourite actors—the Deshmukh couple—in my book ‘The Guest’ as major characters who help our book heroine in a critical situation. Of course, I got their permission to use their real names, but I assumed their personalities (as I thought they would be in real life) and wrote them into the scenes. It was such a joyride and I thank them for reading the scenes, loving their role in the story and letting me go ahead with this crazy idea!

With Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh (click on the picture to enlarge)

I love scarves and beaches.

I write to white noise or soothing instrumentals playing in the background.

I survived school life, but I miss college life, which is why I try to relive it through my characters.

Connect with me:

Want to collaborate, write a guest post on my blog, ask for a review copy of my book, give me a copy of your awesome book for an honest review or simply say hello?